Thoughts on RAM 1500 Eco Diesel

While 28 mpg on the highway sounds great for a pickup, and it is, my wife's gas powered 99 suburban gets 20 most of the time, will tow a C-Dory 22 fine, and has lived for almost 200,000 miles. Honestly, it's still a really good truck and thankfully it just keeps going, going, and going. 40,000 bucks (or almost) sounds like a fortune to spend on a 1/2 ton pickup. However, like you, I am intrigued by that pickup as well - just not in any position to spend that kind of money on one. Give us a report when you have driven yours for a year or two; if you get one.
 
I'm a huge diesel fan, but they are not without their drawbacks. I've put well over a million miles on mercedes and cummins powered vehicles. For the most part it's worth the compromise in reliability and longevity on the vehicles I've owned. If you would have asked me last year when my dodge lost prime due to a bad seal and failed lift pump I would have told you a different story. Over $1000 to fix that minor problem. They are more expensive to fix, and require some more specialized expertise.

I could afford to buy a newer, more technologically advanced diesel vehicle to replace my trusted old dodge. The reason I don't is that emissions requirements have changed these vehicles and only time will tell if they are going to be as long lived as the older mechanically injected, non-computerized engines. I know for a fact that urea injected exhaust systems and complex electronics and injection systems have caused some early deaths in some of these vehicles. The ones I've seen have been newer cummins powered ram with the 6.7 and the VW TDI. For me I'm not sure I could trust a new "clean diesel" to last forever, as should be expected for an engine upgrade around $10k over a gas powered truck. That's my $.02, and probably not even worth that :thup
 
This has been really good, interesting and informative for me. I came Soooooo close, this time. Still like the idea, and still think it is a good one, just not good enough for me, for now. After almost a full week of very extensive and exhausting (for me) research, I decided to hold off..... for now. It makes sense to see how these 29mpg diesels do on the limited diet required to stay skinny. I guess we will see over a year or two, and there will be more on the market by then.

I should add, that in checking with several dealers in the PNW, Seattle, Portland and local, none of them could come close to the prices I could get out of Dave Smith's in Kellogg Idaho. They were good folks, no high pressure, helpful to the max and patient as Job. I would go back there , and will, for my next truck. In the mean time, my Tundra is fully capable of doing what I need.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hi Harvey,

This straying off topic a tad but I thought I would pass it on anyway.

Back in March I bought a 2011 Ram, 5.7 Hemi, for 20k. Beautiful truck, I love it. Don't even know I'm towing a boat.

Martin.
 
Hi Martin,

This has been a very interesting journey and I have considered going with al older, lower mile gas rig, due to the savings in purchase price, and in the savings in fuel cost. I'm finding a lot of ways to spend the $40K that a new truck was going to hit me for.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Easyvictor.14":29q0sasr said:
Harvey,
I have a 2014 Ram EcoDiesel, I've put 37,000 absolutely flawless, trouble free miles on it in 2 years.
Truck has the 3.0 liter VM Motori turbo diesel that they've been using in Europe in boats and vehicles for better than 30 years in one form or another.
Robert
Click to expand...
I have a Jeep Liberty diesel MV Motori turbo diesel 2.8 Ltr which I bought new in 2005. It is a well known work horse in Europe and in the UK they run that engine in London taxis service I am told. However, they only passed Cal. emissions standard in 2005-6 years. So Chrysler stopped importing this engine. There was a problem with the NA rendition of this engine too. NA imports of this engine had an EGR valve which would stick partly open and this would make the sudden power loss dangerous when pulling out into traffic. They fix it under warranty, but if I had to pay it was about $1200 and the Jeep net talk said it was a reoccurring problem. So what to do. Well like any good shade tree mechanic I looked for Jeep net talk advice. This was an easy fix too. Disconnect the MAF signal which opened the EGR presto the problem was solved as it then stayed closed. Then because the intercooler has many small tubes that are easily sooted up I also changed out the recir. of the crankcase ventilation, which was sucked back into the combustion air intake thru the intercooler. I replaced this with the old fashion road vent draft tube. This also gave me more HP and on full throttle tests - no more smoke showed at the tail pipe. This was not a challenge for this engine in Europe as they had not installed the EGR valve and that is why it has the great reputation for long trouble free service there. I now have 80,000 trouble free miles on this engine and love it. I tow my 16' Angler and get about 18-20mpg towing -running light on the hwy about 32-34mpg. The torque for this little engine is amazing 295f/lbs.
So in summary: Its not the engine that may give you problems its all the pollution controls they hang on them today that can cost you big bucks to keep them operating. the VW syndrome --eh LOL
 
OK, but what do your mods do to the emissions tests that a lot of people have to pass on an annual or bi-annual basis? Seems like VW was doing something like this (more or less) and they got caught.
 
ssobol I doubt that blueback has to do the emissions tests that some US areas require. I don't know that for sure, so he can comment definitively. The VW fiasco was engineered in tot their system, down from the top, and it was meant to defraud the emissions testing systems ---> BAD on them.

Blueback, I like that you got it fixed and it is working. Like the 80K miles too.

I think where I'm at is that I want to see them work in the US mode for a while, and will be watching that for performance and longevity.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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hardee":1sxe7pi9 said:
ssobol I doubt that blueback has to do the emissions tests that some US areas require. I don't know that for sure, so he can comment definitively. The VW fiasco was engineered in tot their system, down from the top, and it was meant to defraud the emissions testing systems ---> BAD on them.

Blueback, I like that you got it fixed and it is working. Like the 80K miles too.

I think where I'm at is that I want to see them work in the US mode for a while, and will be watching that for performance and longevity.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Click to expand...
There was emission testing in the Metro Van. area at the time and they would have caught my MAF disconnect, as that left a check engine light up on the dash and a error code on the system. So once every 2 years, for the testing station checks, I connected the MAF signal and used my code reader to cancel all previous pollution code errors. Part of the station test was for them to plug in their code reader and that's why I had to clear the deck ahead of their checking it. This was an easy fix around the problem. I did not consider this a moral issue of cheating, as much as solving a problem Chrysler had dumped on their product consumer and walked away as soon as the warranty ended. Ah-yes we C-Brats have our ways to survive this technical world sent out to challenge us--LOL--even at 80
 
Harvey, +1 on Dave Smith Motors. In October 2012 I bought my truck from them. I dealt only with their internet sales department, told them what I was looking for - a 2006 or older (last year before emission controls buggered them up) long bed (for a fifth wheel hitch) one ton diesel pickup, Silverado Duramax Allison preferred but open to other makes.

I made an appointment to go to Kellogg the weekend I had a conference in Spokane. A few days before I was going over, the guy I had been talking to called to tell me the truck I was looking for had just come to them as a trade-in, and that I needed to put a deposit down on it because it would not be there by the end of the day. A 2006 Silverado 3500 Duramax Allision long bed with only 16,000 miles on it. He emailed some photos, and I gulped hard and gave him the deposit via credit card, sight unseen.

On the appointed day, we went to Kellogg with a loan pre-approval from our credit union. The truck looked virturally new, and only had 15,980 miles on it, for a diesel not yet broken in. It had every upgrade available, Bose sound system, sunroof, custom wheels, tonneau cover - and all set up for a fifth wheel, with rails in the bed, brake controller, and mirrors that extend way out. We drove it, and came back in and closed on it. The closer said that the since day I put my deposit down, there were nine backup offers on it.

Dave Smith Motors was very good to deal with, the price was good, and I just don't think anybody else can touch them because of the volume they do.

My truck would be overkill for you but it is nearly a sure thing that they will have or get whatever truck (or car) you tell them you are looking for.

 
I bought my 2009 GMC 1500 at Dave Smith Motors and was very satisfied with the transaction process. they told us when it would be ready and we drove over and picked it up . it was everything they said it would be.
my next new truck will definitely come from them.
 
I too have used Dave Smith, three times. The savings are great.
On all three trucks and jeeps the savings over the Olympia and Centralia dealerships has been over $5000 per rig. That's a pretty good days savings for me. I use the internet sales, they call me with a price and I buy it.
 
Another +1 for Dave Smith. I traded a Jeep Cherokee for a new Ram 3500 SRW this past July. (Hugh inventory!) The price was good and I got $1k more than expected on the trade. I gave them a couple weeks notice and let them know which accessories I wanted added to it (power steps, 5th wheel hitch, bed cover, etc.) and it was all ready when I got there. The transaction went smoothly. I'm very pleased with them.
 
It's good to hear others have had a good experience with Dave Smith too. Over the last 20 years, I have known friends who have purchased vehicles there and have never heard a anything derogatory about them or their process.

I did my work with them over the phone, and was treated with courtesy and respect through the whole experience. No hassle and no high pressure. I would highly recommend them anytime.

As to the EcoDiesel Ram 1500, I am still interested, but in a holding pattern for now.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I have been considering the new Dodge 1500 eco diesel since a friend got one-- he loves it.
My question to the owners with a boat--- How does it handle while towing? Any power loss?
The information I have been reading says that they have a 8800 lbs tow rating for the Quad Cab 4X4.
 
Hi Roger..

I also have looked at the Eco diesel... neat unit.. but as you know I only use my truck tor towing, and really have no use for a truck that is 20' long.. I want my truck short...so standard cab and regular box is for me... they make that combination in the 2500 series... 4X4 with the 6 speed... perfect.. only problem I see is they only offer base interiors... no leather or toys.. sure would make a great hauler ... and super economy...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
My ecodiesel is the sport cab, smaller than a crew with the 6 ft bed, stripped down tradesman model. It sits low ,and has the shorter wheelbase. Pics are in my folder. This truck actually fits in the garage, but is tight. I too wanted a smaller truck, with the diesel option. It took some looking,but I found one.
 
reel chef,

Nice combo. Wish I could find that same cabin style now. I don't think they offered it after that first year. It was either the Tradesman 2 door, or the Quad or Crew cab. I'm not threw looking so thanks for the inspiration.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Now there are more choices, other possibilities and more data.

The RAM EcoDiesel was implicated in possible mileage and EPA "adjustments" along possibly the same line as VW was.

There are now more of the EcoDiesel trucks out there and they have more miles and the owners have more experience with their trucks.

So now, I'm looking to see how things are now? Any changes, good bad or different? Would you do the same thing again?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Harvey,
Google "Ram ecodiesel engine failures" for another perspective...

Knowledge is power.

Stefan
 
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